LATIN AMERICA WORKING GROUP Action at Home for Just Policies Abroad

2020 ANNUAL REPORT As the Americas faced the pandemic, we saw heartless actions by our government towards our Latin American and neighbors. The deported thousands of children, women, and men, exposing them to COVID-19 in detention facilities, and exporting the virus south to a dozen nations across and the Caribbean. We spoke out with you against these cruel deportations, convincing members of Congress to introduce bills to stop them. We called on our Congress to provide generous relief aid to the region.

But we also knew it was a moment not just to be on the defensive, but to ask for what we want: a just and compassionate foreign policy towards our Latin American and Caribbean neighbors. True respect for the rights of migrants, refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers. We created collective blueprints for change for a new relationship between our nations, and our peoples.

And we found that with you alongside us, we could use the moment to organize towards this vision for change.

Cover: Virtual congressional briefing organized by LAWG with Rep. Escobar (D-TX) and Rep. Wilson (D-FL). PHOTO BY LAURI ALVAREZ WHO WE ARE PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS* AFL-CIO he Latin America Working Group AFL-CIO Solidarity Center Taims to ensure that U.S. policies advance human rights, peace, and Alianza Americas social, environmental, and economic Alliance of Baptists justice in Latin America and the Amazon Watch Caribbean. To achieve this, we work with coalition partners in the United Daniella speaking at one-year anniversary vigil of the American Friends Service Committee Remain in Mexico policy. States and Latin America to educate PHOTO BY LAURI ALVAREZ American Jewish World Service policymakers and the public and to Americans for Indian Opportunity mobilize a diverse, and powerful grassroots base that can influence U.S. policymakers to achieve change. Bread for the World Catholic Relief Services The Latin America Working Group (LAWG), a 501 (c) 4 nonprofit, carries out advocacy and grassroots education. The Latin America Working Group Education Fund (LAWGEF), a 501 (c) Center for Economic and Policy Research 3 nonprofit, sponsors educational events and publishes reports and updates. In this year’s activities, lobbying tasks were carried out by LAWG, and educational tasks by LAWGEF. 2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Addressing the Pandemic’s Impact ❚ Organized a campaign to stop deportations as the Trump Administration continued to deport migrants, exposing them to COVID-19 in detention facilities and exporting the virus to a dozen Latin American and Caribbean countries, most with fragile health systems, like Haiti, Guatemala, and . Our efforts led to the introduction of House and Senate bills to declare a moratorium on deportations and defund expulsions at the border. ❚ Documented and raised with policymakers ways that some Latin American governments used the pandemic to restrict human rights. ❚ Advocated for generous U.S. assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean to address the pandemic, including funding for the Pan American Health Organization.

❚  Pivoted to virtual advocacy, successfully holding virtual advocacy briefings and meetings, and including Latin American partners in virtual strategy sessions and advocacy. ❚ Joined other partners in a letter calling for the easing of sanctions on to limit Center for Global Education and Experience at the humanitarian impact during the pandemic. Augsburg University ❚ Published and disseminated memos, alerts, reports, infographics, and blogs on the Center for International Environmental Law pandemic’s wide-ranging impact (see our COVID-19 Resources page). Center for International Policy Church World Service LAWG brings partners Human Rights Committee together to strategize about human rights Columban Center for Advocacy & Outreach and peace in Colombia during the pandemic. Cuban American Alliance Education Fund

PHOTO BY ANTONIO SAADIPOUR Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Global Mission Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Washington Office Global Exchange Global Health Partners Defending the Rights of Migrants and Refugees ❚ Coordinated broad coalitions efforts around the one-year anniversary of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, mobilizing digital advocacy and speaking at an in-person rally on Capitol Hill. Organized support for a congressional letter with over 100 signatures to end the policy. ❚ Uplifted a campaign to end and defund the so-called Asylum Cooperative Agreements, or safe third country agreements with Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador that deny asylum seekers protection and deport them to countries they are not from through petitions, meetings with policymakers, webinars, and educational materials. ❚ Educated organizations, policymakers, and journalists about the Trump Administration’s efforts during the pandemic to close the border to asylum seekers and expel them to Mexico and , publishing blogs, briefs, and infographics on their harmful impacts. ❚ Organized a webinar with partners to inform civil society organizations in the region on the implications of changing U.S. border, immigration and asylum policies on migrants and refugees from Mexico and Central America. Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA Institute for Policy Studies International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights International Labor Rights Forum Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Lutheran World Relief Office of Public Policy Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Mennonite Central Committee Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Justice and Peace Office National Security Archive

Activist at candlelight vigil. PHOTO BY LAURI ALVAREZ Promoting Peace ❚ Created Protect Colombia’s Peace with Colombian & U.S. civil society partners, a report on the status of Colombia’s flagging peace process with recommendations to change U.S. policy to prioritize support and diplomatic pressure for peace. Shared with foreign policy experts, State Department officials, Congress, journalists, and activists.

Lisa, Antonio, and Cristina Espinel with the winners of the National Prize for the Defense of Human Rights in Colombia. PHOTO BY ALYSON WOOLLEY ❚ Helped spur and organized 94 members of Congress to sign a congressional Network in Solidarity with the People letter urging protection for Colombia’s endangered human rights and of Guatemala (NISGUA) community activists and increased attention to implementing Colombia’s Oxfam America historic peace accords. Peace Brigades International, USA ❚ Advocated with Congress to withhold military aid to Honduras, Guatemala, and Presbyterian Church (USA) El Salvador over abuses and authoritarian actions, resulting in the House cutting part of their military assistance. Urged Congress to press the administration to Presbyterian Peace Fellowship end its hold up of humanitarian aid to those countries. Quixote Center ❚ Supported bills that would allow unrestricted American travel to Cuba to counter Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and the increased travel restrictions imposed by the State Department at the Human Rights beginning of the year. Sisters of Mercy of the Americas ❚ Published and disseminated a joint memo updating on the security and human United Church of Christ rights situation in Mexico with recommendations for U.S. assistance. United Methodist Church, General Board of Church & Society US-Cuba Cultural Exchange Upholding Justice, Defending the Defenders ❚ Created with civil society partners Serve Your People: A Roadmap for Transforming Relations between the United States and the Northern Countries of Central America. The report calls for a new policy that goes far beyond undoing attacks on the rights of asylum seekers, immigrants, and migrants. It recommends starting with diplomacy against corruption and abuse and standing, not with corrupt officials, but with civil society forces for change. It offers a roadmap to address the pandemic, mitigate climate change, and restore and advance access to protection for migrants and refugees at our border and throughout Mexico and Central America. Shared with foreign policy experts, State Department officials, Congress, journalists, and activists. ❚ Increased attention to human rights abuses, authoritarian actions, and corruption in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador by encouraging and gaining signers for congressional letters, promoting social media, and publishing memos for policymakers and the press. ❚ Stood by collectives of families of the disappeared and civil society organizations in Mexico by uplifting their campaigns and calls for the implementation of the Disappearance Law and advancing investigations into cases of enforced disappearances. Washington Office on Latin America Witness for Peace Witness for Peace Solidarity Collective * This list includes some of the groups participating. Participation does not imply endorsement of all LAWG/LAWGEF efforts. Decisions to endorse statements and campaigns are made on a case-by-case basis by each participating organization

Antonio at Supreme Court DACA decision protest. PHOTO BY LAURI ALVAREZ Supporting Communities’ Land, Environmental, and Economic Rights ❚ Organized an advocacy tour for the winners of the National Prize for the Defense of Human Rights in Colombia, including Clemencia Carabalí Rodallega, who defends the rights of Afro-Colombian communities to their lands and natural resources. The tour, which included meetings with the State Department, Congress, media, and public, was organized with partners Washington Office on Latin America and Diakonia. ❚ Urged our supporters to take action to protect the rights and territories of environmental defenders in the region. We urged activists to take part in a social media campaign on the fourth anniversary of the murder of indigenous leader Berta Cáceres; leveraged support for Congresswoman Omar’s letter to the new U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) calling out its plan to invest in a controversial dam project; and urged supporters to write to Honduran

Stand with Guapinol Defenders in Honduras.

PHOTO BY EMILY FROUDE officials to protest the BOARD OF DIRECTORS unjust pre-trial detention of Latin America Working Group Guapinol community leaders Education Fund struggling to defend their Annalise Romoser, President local rivers and lands from Environmental and Human Rights Activist pollution from a mining Bernice Romero, Secretary/Treasurer company. Save the Children ❚ Created a training memo for Adriana Beltrán, Washington Office on Latin America State Department human Martin Shupack, Church World Service rights officers to explain LAWG Staff: Antonio Saadipour, Lauri Alvarez, Lisa Haugaard, Joe Perez, Businessman and Activist ways they can use their Daniella Burgi-Palomino. position to protect human Brian Finnegan, AFL-CIO rights defenders, particularly Kevin Murray, Massachusetts Advocates for Children environmental and land rights defenders. Briefed new human rights and Alaide Vilchis Ibarra, Interfaith Movement for other officers posted to Honduras, Colombia, and Mexico on how they should Immigrant Justice stand up for environmental, land, and other activists at risk. Finances LAWGEF 2019 LAWG 2019 Expenses Expenses LAWGEF’s income of $413,010 in 2019 came from foundations as well as from individual donors and nongovernmental organizations. Expenditures for 2019 were $322,909 (two two- year grants received in 2019 were partially carried over to 2020). Contributions to Fundraising Fundraising LAWGEF are tax-deductible. 10% Programs 8% Programs LAWG’s income of $157,686 in 2019 came 77% 79% from contributions by funders and Management Management 13% 13% coalition partners, including humanitarian agencies, nongovernmental and faith- based organizations, and individual donors. Expenditures for 2019 were $159,094. Contributions to LAWG are not tax-deductible. Acknowledgments BOARD OF DIRECTORS Many thanks to the following for their contributions to LAWGEF’s public Latin America Working Group education work: Ford Foundation, Foundation to Promote Open Society, HIP- Theo Sitther, President CAMMINA, Moriah Fund, Stewart Mott Charitable Trust, Holthues Trust, Evelyn E. Peacebuilding Consultant and Richard J. Gunst Foundation, Oxfam America, United Church of Christ, AFL- Louis Head, Secretary/Treasurer CIO, Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, and Washington Office Co-Founder, Cuba Research and Analysis Group on Latin America. Gary Cozette, Co-Founder, Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America Many thanks to the following for their contributions to LAWG: Open Society Melinda St. Louis, Public Citizen Policy Center, Church World Service, ELCA Global Mission, Mennonite Central Mavis Anderson, Cuba Expert Committee, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Alliance of Baptists, and Presbyterian Church USA, as well as to Mary Delorey, Latin America Expert the other partner organizations and many generous individuals contributing to Laura Harris, Americans for Indian Opportunity both organizations. Alberto Fernández, Solidarity Center

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Shoes without laces, representing migrants returned to Mexico. PHOTO BY LAURI ALVAREZ

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